A Brief History of eBooks & eReaders v3.0

Michael SauersTechnology Innovation LibrarianNebraska Library Commission

A brief history of eBooks1971: Project Gutenberg

1988: NeXT Computer has

searchable eBooks

1989: Ben Bova

publishes Cyberbooks

1993: Apple Newton (PDA)

1999: Rocket eBook

(portable reader)

2000: Microsoft Reader

(PC software)

2002: Palm Treo (PDA,

then Smartphone)

2002: TabletPC

(technically since 1989)

2004: Sony Libré

released in Japan (1st gen

eInk)

2006: Sony ® Reader released in

U.S.(2nd gen eInk)

12/2007: Sony

releases v.2 of Reader

12/2007: Amazon.com releases the

Kindle

11/2009: Barnes &

Noble releases the

Nook

04/2010: Apple

releases the iPad

2010: A dozen+ new eInk readers

released

2011: Amazon

releases the Kindle Fire

3

• Started with the U.S. Constitution typed into a mainframe

• Now contains over 30,000 free e-texts in multiple DRM-free formats

1971: Project Gutenberg

4

• First computer to include searchable eBooks.

• Oxford Shakespeare & Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

1988: NeXT Computer

5

• Foresaw the current e-book readers

• Predicted the “end of publishing as we know it”

1989: Cyberbooks

6

• The first “Personal Digital Assistant”

• “Newton Books”

• Suspended in 1998

1993: Apple Newton

7

• Ergonomic, ambidextrous design, about the size of a paperback

• Weighs only 22 ounces

• Stores about 4,000 pages--the equivalent of 10 novels

• Speech-quality audio for documents published with audio content

• Long battery life--17 to 33 hours per charge

1999: Franklin EB-500 Rocket eBook

8

• PC eBook reading software

• ClearType technology

• Annotations

• Pan & Zoom

• Highlighting

• Dictionary

• Battery life dependent on platform(desktop vs. laptop)

2000: Microsoft Reader

9

• Mobipocket Reader software

• Download content over the air (OTA)

• Syncs with desktop

• Annotation

• Highlighting

• Dictionary

• Software compatible with devices other than the Treo

2002: Palm Trēo

10

• Used in combination with Microsoft Reader software

• Promoted as a “reader” due to ability to easily convert screen to portrait mode

2002: TabletPC

11

• First eInk-based device

• AAA batteries

• Available only in Japan

2004: Sony Libré

Content is not drawn, but “charged”

170 Pixels Per Inch (PPI)

Newspaper quality

Does not need power to hold a display, only to change it.

What is "eInk"

• Display• eInk / non-backlit

• 800x600 resolution

• Rotatable

• 4-level grayscale

• Three text sizes

• 64MB built in storage

• SD/Memory Stick card slot

• USB data transfer

• Approximately 7,500 page turns per charge

• Approx. 9oz

eReader PRS-500

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/1240167805

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/2050405275/

16

• Not an explicit eBook device

• Multiple reader software packages available• Stanza• Kindle• Barnes & Noble• eBook apps

• Backlit non-eInk display

06/2007: iPod Touch / iPhone

12/2007: Sony PRS-505

• Minor improvements over the PRS-500• 8 levels of

grayscale• Redesigned

controls• Additional

memory card slot

18

• 6” screen

• 200-title storage

• Download wirelessly via “whispernet” (EVDO)

• QWERTY Keyboard

• Ability to add notes to text

• Basic Web access

12/2007: Amazon Kindle

19

• Redesigned controls

• WiFi added

• 1500-title storage

• 16 levels of grayscape

• 20% faster page refresh

• Text-to-speech option

• 9.1mm thick

02/2009: Kindle 2

20

• 9.7” screen

• Automatic screen rotation

• 8.5mm thick

• 3500-title storage

• Designed for text-book market

06/2009: Kindle DX

08/2009: Sony PRS-300/600/900

Pocket Edition Daily EditionTouch Edition

22

• 6” eInk display and 3.5” color control display

• 12.1oz

• Android 1.5

• User replaceable battery

• Can share a book once with another person for up to two weeks

11/2009: Barnes & Noble Nook

• iBooks app included

• Kindle app available

• “text-to-voice” via VoiceOver

• 1.5lbs

• 9.7” backlit glossy screen

• Automatic screen rotation

• WiFi and/or 3G

• 9+ hours of battery life depending on Internet connectivity used

04/2010: Apple iPad

24

• 15.8oz

• 7” screen

• WiFi

• 8GB internal storage

• MicroSD slot

• Android 2.2

• Rootable

11/2010: Barnes & Noble Nook Color

25

• 14.6oz

• 7” screen

• WiFi

• 8GB internal storage

• MicroSD slot

• Android 2.3

• Amazon Silk Browser

11/2011: Kindle Fire

26

ePub

• .epub

• Most common standard

• Supported by nearly every device except the Kindle

• DRM can be added to it

• Adobe DRM most common form of DRM used for ePub (.acsm)

Major eBook File FormatsMobipocket

• .mobi

• Supported by many platforms

• Main format for use on the Kindle

• DRM can be added to it

Kindle

• .azw

• Amazon’s proprietary format

• .mobi + DRM

Michael Sauers

msauers@nlc.state.ne.us

http://travelinlibrarian.info/

http://delicious.com/travelinlibrarian/ebooks

Thank You!